BASEBALL: YANKEES NOTEBOOK

BASEBALL: YANKEES NOTEBOOK; Sheffield Is Still a Power, Injury and All

By TYLER KEPNER

Published: July 21, 2004

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 20—
Considering the weakness in his left shoulder, Gary Sheffield says he is surprised by how well he has played this season.

''Oh, yeah, no doubt about it,'' said Sheffield, the Yankees' right fielder. ''Sometimes you feel like you're going to go out and embarrass yourself, to be honest. That's every athlete's biggest fear.''

Sheffield, hitting .292 with 65 runs batted in, received a cortisone shot for the bursitis in his shoulder on June 21, and he said Tuesday that he would like to get another shot in a different spot. The Yankees will leave the decision to him.

''It's going to be based on what he tells us,'' General Manager Brian Cashman said.

Cashman discussed Sheffield's status with Manager Joe Torre, the team doctor Stuart Hershon and the trainer Gene Monahan on a conference call on Tuesday. Trainers assured Sheffield that he could safely get two more shots this season. ''I'm going to evaluate it, talk it over with my family and see what's best,'' Sheffield said.

Cashman said he was not seeking outfield help as protection against a long-term injury to Sheffield, and Sheffield said he had no intention of shutting himself down.

But he said he did believe his condition could be worse than bursitis. He said the Yankees had sent his X-rays to Dr. Frank Jobe, the Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon. Sheffield would prefer to avoid surgery after the season.

''The last thing you want to do is spend four months of rehab,'' he said.

While he has remained a force in the lineup, Sheffield feels pain when he reaches down for ground balls.

On Monday, he let a hit by Carl Crawford get past him for a triple. ''Normally, I get to that ball,'' Sheffield said. ''I just couldn't reach out the way I wanted.''

Late in Tuesday's game, Torre told Sheffield he planned to replace him with Bubba Crosby for defense. Sheffield asked to stay in, and he did.

''He said, 'I'll get it done,''' Torre said. ''Those were his words. You sort of trust him when he says that.''

Jeter's X-Ray Is Negative

Derek Jeter has been hit by pitches 12 times this year, often in the hands. It happened again in the sixth inning on Tuesday, against Tampa Bay's Victor Zambrano, and Jeter left in the eighth. He had X-rays on his right hand during the game, and the Yankees said the results were negative.

''I've been hit on the hand plenty of times,'' said Jeter, who had the hand heavily wrapped. ''It doesn't feel good, but it'll be all right.''

Jeter said he would play against Toronto on Wednesday.

Johnson Deal May Take Time

The Yankees do not expect a make a trade for Randy Johnson while the Arizona Diamondbacks' owner, Jerry Colangelo, is in Italy, meaning that any deal probably would take place close to the July 31 deadline. The Diamondbacks do not have to trade Johnson, but they are trying to do so because they are convinced that he wants to leave.

Johnson's agent, Barry Meister, said Monday that Johnson was not trying to force his way out. But Johnson is widely believed to be seeking a trade to the Yankees, and because he has a full no-trade clause, he could force his way there if the Diamondbacks decide to move him.

Arizona has not told the Yankees what it would want in a trade, but the Yankees have begun to seek help from outside the organization to fortify a possible offer. They could try to acquire a starter to fill in while Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown are hurt, then use that pitcher in a deal for Johnson.

Barring a trade, the Yankees will start Tanyon Sturtze or Brad Halsey against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday. Halsey, a left-hander for Class AAA Columbus, pitched well against Boston on July 1. But Torre and the pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre are more likely to pick Sturtze, who worked four and two-thirds innings in relief on Monday.

''The decision is if we want to take Sturtze out of the bullpen,'' Torre said. ''We're leaning that way. We haven't told him yet because we're not totally sure yet, but we both liked what we saw last night. He hadn't pitched in two weeks, and he had pretty good command.''

Jon Lieber will start in the Friday game at Fenway against Boston's Curt Schilling. Sturtze or Halsey will oppose Bronson Arroyo on Saturday, with José Contreras facing Derek Lowe on Sunday night.